Colborn Likes What He Sees From Orosco

Reliever Jesse Orosco has been impressive and is expected to make the opening-day roster.

“He’s getting better every time out,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “You factor that progress with knowing what he has done over his career, and you get a good idea of what he might do over the season.”

The Dodgers signed Orosco, 43, to a one-year, $700,000 contract that guarantees him $115,000 if he does not make the team.

The majors’ all-time leader with 1,096 appearances, Orosco sat out most of last season after undergoing surgery on his pitching elbow, but the Dodgers said he has not had elbow problems.

Orosco has pitched much better than his 0-2 record and 5.40 earned-run average might indicate, the Dodgers said.

“He’s the same Jesse Orosco he always has been,” reliever Mike Fetters said of the 21-year veteran. “As soon as I heard his arm was fine, I knew he was going to make this team because nothing about Jesse has changed from his first day in the big leagues until now, he’s just more polished.

“I learned how to be a closer from Jesse Orosco and he’s the guy I consider to be my mentor. I was terrible when I broke into the big leagues in 1989, and I didn’t learn how to pitch, not just throw, until I joined Jesse in ’92 in Milwaukee. There were a lot of nights he had to drive me home and calm me down when things were going wrong, and he explained how things were to a young closer.

“I’m happy for him, and for the team too, because Jesse can help this club. He knows how to get guys out and that’s what we need. You can never have enough guys like that.”

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Rookie utilityman Hiram Bocachica, a standout in exhibition play, hit a solo home run in Thursday’s 9-7 victory over the Florida Marlins at Dodgertown.

Bocachica, 25, who started in center field and batted leadoff, has also played third base this spring.

“Wherever [Manager Jim] Tracy needs me is fine with me,” said Bocachica, who many Dodger veterans said should make the team. “Center, right, third base or catcher, it doesn’t matter to me. I just want to help this team.”

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General Manager Kevin Malone is expected to speak with Brian Cashman, his New York Yankee counterpart, about trading Gary Sheffield when the Dodgers play the Yankees on Saturday and Sunday at Tampa.

Baseball executives said the Dodgers are leaning toward keeping Sheffield, but they want to listen to the Yankees, who might offer highly-touted shortstop prospect Alfonso Soriano as the centerpiece of a package.

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Darren Dreifort struggled against the Marlins, giving up six hits and three runs in four innings. . . . Sheffield hit his first homer of the spring. . . . Infielder Tim Bogar, expected to make the club, homered and drove in four runs. . . . As expected, center fielder Tom Goodwin rescinded his trade request.